Gable and trim construction



y 25, 1967 J. R. PRICE GABLE AND TRIM CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1965 I NVEN TOR James R. Prz'ce ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,332,180 GABLE AND TRIM CONSTRUCTION James R. Price, Lafayette, Ind, assignor to National Homes Corporation, Lafayette, Ind. Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,586 4 Claims. (Cl. 5294) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A horizontal rigid beam-like metal member secured to the outer face of a building end wall and supporting a gable wall thereon in outwardly spaced parallel relation to the end wall. The member has mounting .and trim flanges and means for accurately locating the bottom edge of the gable wall.

This invention relates to a building construction and particularly to a novel gable arrangement and trim therefor.

In brief, the invention relates to a structure particularly adapted to prefabricated buildings having an end wall over which a gable structure is positioned. The gable structure may be of the usual triangular shape but is not necessarily of such outline and may be of other shapes. A beam-like metal structure is provided which is attached to the upper edge of an end wall of the building and projects outwardly therefrom to define the bottom surface of a gable soffit and also function as a cantilever support for the gable itself. The gable may include a triangular truss work having a bottom rail resting directly on the outer edge of the cantilever support and thus being supported in proper position but spaced outwardly from the end wall of the building. This outward spacing permits subsequent application of brick veneer to the end wall or may be the shape of the finished building itself, as desired. The cantilever support comprises an elongated metal plate defining, in effect, the web of a beam structure having a flange along one edge by which the support may be nailed or otherwise secured to the building end wall. The plate extends horizontally outwardly from the end wall of the building and on its upper surface is provided with a further longitudinal flange or rib to accurately position the bottom rail of a gable truss or the like. In addition, the plate has a depending flange near but spaced from its inner edge and which serves as an integral trim strip for a layer of sliding material applied to the end wall therebelow. In addition, the invention includes a novel trim structure for finishing the juncture between the gable and roof sheathing. This trim includes a sheet metal flange overlying the edge of the roof sheathing and a face trim portion having an inwardly then upwardly inturned flange at its lower edge engageable with spring clips secured to the gable structure so that the trim strip may be readily slipped into place in the field after prefabricated elements have been assembled. It is to be noted, however, that the features of this invention are not limited to use with prefabricated buildings but may be used in any building construction.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a gable supporting member to facilitate field installation of an overhanging gable spaced outwardly from a building end wall or frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a gable support which is readily installed in the field and particularly adapted for prefabricated constructions.

Still another object is to provide such a gable support with a gable truss locating means thereon and a trim flange therebelow.

A further object is to provide a construction including a novel and readily applied trim structure particularly adapted for prefabricated buildings and involving a minimum of field nailing and eliminating the necessity for scaffold erection.

An additional object is to provide such a trim structure involving no nailing through the face thereof.

Another object is to provide such a trim structure incorporating a roof flashing feature therein.

Other and additional objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary end view of a building incorporating the present invention, with parts thereof broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of the cantilever support of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of a trim strip; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the spring clips employed to retain the trim strip of FIG. 4 in place.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is schematically shown therein a building having an end wall 2 and a gable structure 4 thereover. The gable structure 4 is supported from the end wall 2 by a support 6 to be further described. At its upper edges the gable structure supports roof sheathing and the juncture therebetween is covered by a trim strip 8, to be described in greater detail later.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the end wall 2 of the building is shown only in fragment and the gable support 6 is shown attached thereto. The support 6 comprises a metal plate 10 extending generally horizontally across the end wall 2 and horizontally outwardly therefrom. A flange 12 at the inner edge of the plate 10 abuts the end wall 2 and is secured thereto by means of nails 14 or the like extending through openings 15 (FIG. 3). Outwardly of the flange 12 and extending upwardly from the upper surface plate 10 is a further flange or rib 16 spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the plate 10. The distance from the flange 16 to the outer edge of the plate 10 is substantially equal to the thickness of a gable truss member 18, which may be formed of wood or the like and specifically adapted for prefabricated construction in a factory or plant. The rib 16 is so positioned that, after the support member 6 is secured to the end wall 2, the truss 18 may be positioned thereon with its bottom rail 20 resting on the plate 10 and abutting the rib 16. This positions the truss at the desired distance from the end wall 2 and parallel thereto. The truss may then be secured to its support by means of nails 22 or the like driven through openings 23 (FIG. 3).

The member 18 is referred to herein as a gable truss but it is to be understood that the gable may be of any desired construction and the term truss is intended to include all structures even though it may be the upper portion of a side wall rather than a true gable. As shown, the truss 18 is provided with an outer layer of siding 24 secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending downwardly below the bottom rail 20 and past the outer edge of plate 10 to provide a drip edge.

As previously suggested, the structure thus far described provides an offset between the gable and the end wall of the building to facilitate the later application of brick veneer to the end wall 2, if desired. On the other hand the end wall 2 may be provided with any desired outer siding layer 26 below the support 6. The plate 10' is provided with a depending flange 28 spaced outwardly from the flange 12 and serving as a trim strip for the upper edge of the siding material 26.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the upper edge of the gable truss 18 supports the usual roof sheathing 30, which may be in the form of plywood sheets or the like. As shown, the sheathing edge extends outwardly slightly beyond the outer face of the gable 18 although this is not essential. Before erection and securement to the support 6, the gable truss 18 is provided with a series of spring clips 32 which may be nailed thereon at the factory. After erection of the gable structure and laying of the roof sheathing 30, the trim strips may be applied without the necessity of providing any scaffolding or nailing through the trim strip from the face thereof.

The trim strip 8 is an elongated sheet metal structure having a front face portion 34 provided with decorative beading 35 if desired and an upper flange 36 adapted to overlie the edge of the roof sheathing 30. The flange 36 thus serves as a mounting and securing means for the trim strip and also serves as flashing for the finished roof to be laid on the sheathing 30 thereafter. The lower edge of the front panel 34 is provided with an inturned flange 38 which in turn terminates in an upwardly directed flange 40. It is to be noted that the spring clip 32 includes a downwardly extending finger terminating in an outwardly directed lower end portion 42. The spring finger when secured to the truss 18 by nails 44 or the like, is biased inwardly toward the truss structure. As is obvious, the trim strips 8 may be applied by workmen on the roof sheathing by first engaging the flange 40 under the spring clips 32 and sliding the same upwardly, while the trim strip is tilted outwardly at its top, to a position where the flange 36 can then be swung over the roof sheathing and secured thereto by nails 46. Thus, the trim may be installed in the field without the erection of scaffolding and Without nailing through the face panel 34 thereof.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that applicant has provided a building structure having a gable structure supported by cantilever means secured to a building wall. The cantilever means automatically positions the gable at the proper location and thus facilitates rapid field installation. The unique and economical method of construction described is simpler and less time consuming than conventional methods heretofore used. The trim feature reduces the field nailing of the trim strip by the elimination of face nailing and thus ensures a finished building construction wherein the trim is free of blemishes that would result from face nailing.

While a single embodiment has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that other embodiments may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a building having an end wall and an upstanding planar gable wall structure thereover, gable supporting means comprising a substantially rigid metal plate member extending horizontally across said end wall and horizontally outwardly therefrom; an upwardly directed first flange integral with the inner edge of said plate, abutting said end wall and being secured thereto; said gable structure being supported by and extending upwardly from the outer edge portion of said plate whereby said gable wall structure is spaced outwardly from and substantially parallel to said end wall, said gable wall structure including a truss member having a bottom rail resting on and secured to said outer edge portion of said plate; a rib on the upper surface of said plate inwardly from the outer edge thereof, parallel to and outwardly of said end wall and engaging the inner edge of said bottom rail to position the same in predetermined spaced relation to said end wall.

2. A building as defined in claim 1 wherein said gable wall structure includes an outer layer of siding material secured to said truss member and projecting downwardly past said bottom rail and the outer edge of said plate.

3. A building as defined in claim 1 wherein said end wall is provided with a layer of siding material below said gable supporting means; and a second flange depending integrally from the lower face of said plate in overlying relation to the upper edge of said layer of siding material.

4. A gable support beam comprising: an elongated substantially rigid metal plate having substantially parallel edges; an integral support flange extending laterally of one face of said plate at one edge thereof; an integral trim flange extending laterally from the opposite face of said plate in spaced parallel relation to said one edge; and an integral locating flange extending from said one face of said plate in spaced parallel relation to said support flange and the other edge of said plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,648 2/1937 Calkins 5290 2,230,248 2/1941 Henning 5294 2,896,559 7/1959 Stephens 5294 3,024,573 3/ 1962 McKinley 52-62 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

C. G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BUILDING HAVING AN END WALL AND AN UPSTANDING PLANAR GABLE WALL STRUCTURE THEREOVER, GABLE SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID METAL PLATE MEMBER EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS SAID END WALL AND HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM; AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED FIRST FLANGE INTEGRAL WITH THE INNER EDGE OF SAID PLATE, ABUTTING SAID END WALL AND BEING SECURED THERETO; SAID GABLE STRUCTURE BEING SUPPORTED BY AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OUTER EDGE PORTION OF SAID PLATE WHEREBY SAID GABLE WALL STRUCTURE IS SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID END WALL, SAID GABLE WALL STRUCTURE INCLUDING A TRUSS MEMBER HAVING A BOTTOM RAIL REST- 